National Assembly Adopts Report on Political Funding Limits and Disclosure Thresholds
Cape Town – 20 May 2025 — The National Assembly has adopted a report by the Portfolio Committee on Home Affairs that sets new limits on political donations and establishes disclosure thresholds for political parties, independent candidates, and independent representatives.
The resolution, passed during a hybrid plenary sitting on Tuesday, responds to the absence of specific figures in the Electoral Matters Amendment Act, 2024 (Act No. 14 of 2024), which was enacted last year. The Political Party Funding Act, 2018 requires a resolution by the National Assembly to empower the President to set these limits through regulation.
The adopted motion sets the upper limit for annual donations to political entities at R30 million per donor and the disclosure threshold at R200,000 per donor in a financial year. These figures apply across political parties and independent political actors.
According to the committee’s report, the review process considered the rising costs of political campaigning, the limited capacity of the state to fully subsidise political operations, and the administrative burden associated with tracking smaller donations. Public participation and expert consultations informed the final recommendation.
Committee Chairperson Mr Mosa Chabane described the process as “rigorous and complex,” emphasizing the importance of transparency and public involvement in democratic reforms. He also noted that ongoing work by the Electoral Reform Consultation Panel may lead to further changes in the party funding landscape.
The committee also acknowledged the need to revisit the Political Party Funding Act to address legislative gaps and align audit and disclosure systems with enhanced enforcement by the Independent Electoral Commission (IEC).
Parliament has welcomed the committee’s work, stating that the resolution reflects a balanced approach to promoting transparency while accommodating the financial realities of political participation.
🔊 Listen to a soundbite from Mr Mosa Chabane: Click here
🔊 Listen to the NA’s adoption of the motion: Click here
